Automatic coupling for air-press.



I H. CURRIER.

AUTOMATIC COUPLING FOR AIR PIPES.

APPu'cATsoN FILED JUNE 15, 1916.

1%2451 1 Patented May 1, 1912".

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. CURRHZR. AUTQMATIC COUPLING. FOR AIR PlPES.

APPUCATON FILED JUNE 15. 19l6.

Patented May 1, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

lltlilrmil'mllllllllllllrllrulpa rs a" FFEC,

HARRY cunnrnn, or Maureen, MAINE, assren'on or Two-rinses TGJQHN A. HAMILTON AND JOHN W. STOBIE, BOTH or MADISON, MAI-NE.

AUTOMATIC COUPLING- FQR AIR'-PIPES.

' "To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY CURRIER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Somersetand,

State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Couplings for AirPipes; and I do hereby de .clzire the following to bear full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

until the cars are subsequently uncoupled.-

Another object is'the provision of means of movably supporting the coupler beneath the drawhead of the car, so as to permit independent movement of the coupler and drawhead.

v With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the novel construction,

- combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawlngs, in which Figure 1 represents a fragmentary sideelevation of two coupled cars, illustrating two of the coupling elements in eig ageinent with each other,

Fig. 2.represents a longitudinal sectional view through one. of the coupling elements,

Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary bottom plan view of the car,

Fig.4: represents a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 represents an elevationof one of the couplingelements.

The two mating coupling elements are identically constructed, and as a description of one applies equally well to the other, I will describe the construction of one in detail.

- Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral-8 indicates a cylinder carrying integral vertical trunnions 9, pivotally supported in a substantially rectangular frame 10' suspended below the drawhead 11 of the car body, whereby the cylinder may oscillate on a vetrical axis in- Specification of Letters Patent.

{P wnee Ma 1, 1917.-

Application filed June 15, 1916. Serial No. 103,783.

dependently of the drawheadi The cylinder 8 is normally retained in parallelrelation to the drawhead by a pair of springs 12 connected at one end. to the inner extremity of the cylinder 8 and at their the supporting frame 10.

Heads 13 and 14 are fitted in the inner and outer ends, respectively, of the cylinder opposite ends to i 8, and the inner head slidably receives a pipe section 15 connected with a coupling 16, which latter is connected with a flexible tube 17, whereby air is conducted from the train pipe 18 to the pipe section 15. A preferred type of rotary valve 19 is connected with the train pipe 18 for controllingthe passage at airto the couplingelement and is operable by longitudinally movable rods 20, having pivotal connection at their terminals with the valve 19 and having angularly directed outer terminals 21 arranged adjacent the sides of the car, whereby they may be conveniently actuated. l

A pipe section 22 is slidably mounted in the outer head 14, and is formed integral with the piston 23 reciprocably mounted within the cylinder 8 and having an'axial openingvcommunicating with the pipe sec-- tion 22 and receiving the adjacent terminal of the pipe section 15.

The outer terminal of the pipe section 22 is connected with the coupling head 25, having the axial opening 26 therethrough communicating with the pipe section 22. A

cushion or gasket 28 is fitted in recesses at the opposite end with the piston 23, and

the piston is prevented from turning with in the cylinder by longitudinal ribs 30 formed thereon and slidablyengaged in diametrically opposed and internal grooves 31 formed in the wall of the bore of the cylinder.

A pair of diametrically opposed spring retaining members 32 are rigidly connected With each coupling head and are provided with inwardly directed teeth 33 adapted to engage behind the inclined shoulder 34; of the adjacentcoupling head to retain the heads in coupled position. The inclined surface 34 forms one wall of a circular groove formed in the coupling head in which the inwardlydirected teeth or lugs 33 of the spring" retaining members are received, and the outer surfaces of the heads outwardly of the grooves are tapered or inclined, as indicated at 35,- so' asto spread the spring rctaining members as the coupling heads move together.

What claim is:

1 ,The combination with a railway car includinga bodyand drawhead', a frame carried'by said drawhead, a cylinder pivotally supported on a vertical axis in'said frame,

means normally retaining said cylinder in parallel relation to said drawhead, pipe sec.-

tions slidably mounted in said cylinder, v means normally retaining said pipe sections in outwardly'extended position, a coupling head carried :by one of said pipe sections, and a pair of spring retaining members carried by said coupling head.

2.- The combination with a railway car including'a' body, a drawhead, and a train pipe, of a supporting frame carried by said drawhead, 'a cylinder pivotally. mounted on a vertical axis in said frame, means normally retaining said cylinder in parallel relation to-said drawhead, connected pipe's'ections reciprocably mounted in said cylinder, means normally retaining'said pipe sections in outwardly extended position, a flexible tube connecting the inner terminal of said ipe sections with said tram pipe, a coup mg inder, pipe sections connected with said pis ton, a hollow coupling head connected. with one of said pipe sections having an external grooveprovided with an inclined wall, and a pair of toothed spring retaining members carried by said coupling head.

l. The combination with a railway car ineluding a body and drawhead, a cylinder pivotally supported on a vertical axis by said drawhead, spring means'normally retaining' the 'cylinder'in parallel relation to the drawhead, and a coupling head supported by said cylinder. I

a 5; The combination with a railway car in cluding'a body and drawhead, a frame carried bysaiddrawhcad, a. cylinder pivotally supported on a vertical axis insaid frame, means normally retaining said cylinder in parallel relation to said drawhead, and a coupling head slidably supported by said cylinder. a

In testimony WllGI'QOf'I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY OURRIER.

Witnesses; I

JOHN-A. Hamnxroiy, JAM S P. 

